The archaeology of kingship: Gaulish coins as documentary evidence
This article arose out of research concerning the kingship of Tara. One of the most astonishing descriptions of an Irish king was written by Giraldus Cambrensis in the twelfth century. In this the king embraced a horse and declared himself to be a beast also – he identifies himself with the horse. I...
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| Published in: | Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland Vol. 148; pp. 7 - 28 |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Dublin
Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
01-01-2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | This article arose out of research concerning the kingship of Tara. One of the most astonishing descriptions of an Irish king was written by Giraldus Cambrensis in the twelfth century. In this the king embraced a horse and declared himself to be a beast also – he identifies himself with the horse. It has been suggested that the nearest parallel lay in the horse sacrifice of ancient India. Some scholars cast doubt on this connection. However, echoes of such activity are to be found in western Europe. In folklore in Ireland and elsewhere (particularly in Brittany) there is a motif of the king with horse's ears. The image of a horse with the head of a man is found on ancient Gaulish coins. In Hindu areas of the east there are statues of men with the head of a horse – the inverse of the image on Gaulish coins. The symbol on Gaulish coins has not been satisfactorily explained. This article argues that the explanation lies in kingship and that the evidence from ancient Ireland strongly supports this argument. |
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| ISSN: | 0035-9106 |